Lahore, Pakistan – Web Desk: Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, on Thursday criticized what he described as a “self-serving consortium” within the bureaucracy and government that he said controls national resources, during a Labour Day convention in Lahore.
Addressing workers at the event held at Mansoorah on International Workers’ Day, he said that despite annual speeches and commemorations, workers in Pakistan continue to be denied their fundamental rights. He argued that economic progress has been uneven, with the benefits of labor largely captured by a small elite.
Naeem ur Rehman alleged that a powerful nexus within the state apparatus deprives ordinary citizens of their due share, stressing that people deserve rights—not charity. He also criticized the Benazir Income Support Programme, linking it to corruption and claiming intermediaries benefit through commissions while poverty continues to rise.
The JI leader questioned the labor practices of major political figures, including Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maryam Nawaz, asking whether workers employed in their business enterprises receive fair wages.
He also criticized rising fuel prices and heavy petroleum levies, saying the tax burden per liter bears little relation to the actual cost of fuel. According to him, the government is collecting hundreds of billions of rupees through such levies, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income groups, particularly motorcycle users.
Naeem ur Rehman further raised concerns over the lack of taxation on large landowners and wealthy industrialists, alleging that powerful groups often have loans written off while ordinary workers struggle to secure basic rights.
He highlighted widespread labor exploitation under the contractor system, noting that many workers put in long hours without adequate compensation, and millions remain unregistered in the formal system. He said meaningful reform is essential to ensure justice for workers.
The seminar also featured labor leaders including Shams Rehman Swati and representatives of the National Labour Federation, who discussed workers’ rights and economic challenges.
Separately, during a protest demonstration, a labor activist symbolically hung loaves of bread around his neck to highlight inflation and the growing cost-of-living crisis.
